Rush hour, a photo from Lefkada, Ionian Islands

Photographer's Note

Sheep and goat production are very important enterprises in Greece,
particularly in the mountainous less favored areas. In these areas the climate and
terrain is usually unsuitable to sustain any other type of agricultural productivity. Both
sheep and goats are principally kept for milk production. Lambs are born between
November and January and are weaned from their mothers after one month.
Sheep are common symbols in both mythology and religion.
The Greeks, Romans, and other cultures set significant store in the sacrifice of animals as an act of propitiation or worship in order to placate the gods and no doubt sheep where included amongst the animals deemed suitable as sacrificial offerings. Animal sacrifices including sheep also served other significant religious purposes other than appeasement, such as an offering of
thanksgiving, to seek a favour and as a way of telling the future such as the use of animal entrails for divination. For this purpose it appears that the sheep's liver was the most commonly used organ. In these ancient cultures the use of animal sacrifice was integral to religious practice and was in some cases a substitute for human sacrifice. In Greek culture according to mythology the gods took delight in human sacrifice but seemingly were willing to accept a substitute of an animal sacrifice with a few drops of human blood symbolically added.
The ancient Greek gods where called upon to protect sheep. In the Greek colony of Kyrene in Libya the god Aristaios was revered as the god of herdsmen and bee keepers. He was worshipped by herdsmen because it was believed that he was the protector of both the men and their flocks, watching over to protect them from predators such as wolves, weather and malevolent forces.
In Greek mythology the well known and ancient legend of the golden fleece is central to the mythological tale of Jason, one of the many great heroes of Greek mythology comparable to Herakles and Odysseus.

PaulVDV, timecapturer, Romano46, williewhistler, holmertz, Gigidusud, tedesse, lgir has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

leo61 (0) 2013-02-25 8:44

Hi Kamila!
A nice rural scene with these sheep and the rich green.
Good depth and perfect sharpness overall.
Leo

PaulVDV (55497) 2013-02-25 8:47

Hello Kamila,
A beautiful light shines on this meadow, the trees and the sheep. Very beautiful against that dark background in the left corner.
The sheep seem to be very curious about the photographer. Almost all of them look straight at the camera.
Best regards, Paul

timecapturer (49288) 2013-02-25 9:25

Hi Kamila
love the title for this one! This is a compelling image and I just love the expressions on the sheep's faces. It is a fascinating study, very Greek and quite wonderful. The light and colours here are perfect as is your execution and presentation. Magical imagery!

Have a great week - Brian.

Romano46 (18472) 2013-02-25 9:36

Ciao Kamila,
come ambasciatrice della Grecia nel mondo sei bravissima.
Hai scritto una bellissima nota a corredo della foto che da sè è un inno alle bellezze naturali ed alla flora e alla fauna della tua terra.
Mi piace molto l'istante che hai saputo cogliere con il gregge che sembra in posa verso il fotografo. Lo hai colto anche in un ambiente caratteristico quello della coltura degli ulivi che tanta importanza ha nellìagricoltura della Grecia.
Superfluo dire che la tua foto è molto ben composta e che nitidezza e colore contribuiscono in misura notevole al suo successo.
Ottime le tue note.
Ciao e buona serata
Romano

dta (98562) 2013-02-25 10:03

Hello Kamila ,
That is one of my favourite themes . It seems that sheep are curious to see you there . I like the framing with the olive trees (?) in teh high part .
Regards

williewhistler (16606) 2013-02-25 11:17

Hello Kamila,it`s a very nice pastoral scene with the sheep well aware of your presence and posing for the camera.
Your note is most interesting,thanks.
Regards Les.

holmertz (93520) 2013-02-25 11:26

Hello Kamila,
This is a scene that certainly would have looked the same thousands of years ago, had there only been a philosopher strolling among the trees. These sheep look so clean and freshly combed like they were prepared for a photo. They make a very pretty sight and the background is perfectly idyllic. The light is beautiful too.
Kind regards,
Gert

No_One (4) 2013-02-25 11:53

Hi Kamila,
I love that all these little woolly critters are looking at you for your shot, perhaps they knew of their impending fame here on TE and wanted to get their best sides showing :) I love your composition too with the sheep filling the lower half and the cool looking trees in the upper half. Nice variety of sheep too!
All the best
Noel

AdrianWrobel (1676) 2013-02-25 12:36

piêkne ujêcie tych zwierz±t

willperrett (14075) 2013-02-25 13:05

Hello Kamila
I like this photograph a lot. The humour of the sheep looking at you looking at them is fun. The whole image is well controlled and composed. It almost looks as if you used a soft-focus filter (or added a Diffuse Glow in Photoshop). I wonder... Good title too!
Regards
Will

Gigidusud (21679) 2013-02-25 13:13

Kalispèra Kamila,
Beautiful pastoral scene with nice colors and splendid light!I like it!
Have a nice week,
Gigi.

carlo62 (81265) 2013-02-25 14:18

Ciao Kamila
una nota molto esplicativa, la foto riporta le due attività principali e storiche della tua terra, ovini e olivi. Un binomio comune anche in molte regioni dell'Italia e dei paesi mediterranei in genere, anche per questo motivo siamo più simili di come possiamo sembrare.
Saluti
Carlo

elenimavrandoni (0) 2013-02-25 22:01

I absolutely love them!!!I can watch them for hours...I love the sound of their bells, their soft wool and their sound!
A very lovely natural picture!
all the best,
Eleni

tedesse (25147) 2013-02-26 5:47

Witaj!
Ladny widoczek tych zapatrzonych w fotografa owieczek:)
Dobry kadr i kompozycja, piekne kolory i swiatlo.
Pozdrawiam
Tadeusz

lgir (7363) 2013-02-26 7:35

Hello Kamila,
great contrasts in this country with capture an image of a nice sharpness.
Good work
Regards
Laurent

Cricri (176) 2013-02-26 10:51

Hi Kamila
Toute jolie cette image, j'aime comme tout les moutons te regarde, les oliviers en arrière plan , la bonne lumière et couleurs, très jolie
Belle soirée
cricri

dkmurphys (78032) 2013-02-27 6:47

Hi Kamila,
An iconic image for Greece or Sicily. Simple and very natural, well taken.

Daniel

mkamionka (62188) 2013-03-03 12:23

Czesc Kamila,
no i jeszcze jedna fotka z owieczkami! Wspanialy temat taki wdzieczny. Tym razem wszystkie zdaja sie patrzyc na Ciebie. Bardzo ladnie je uchwycilas w przyjemnym otoczeniu. Podobaja mi sie ze masz tu kilka odcieni zieleni w jednym kadrze.
Urocza kompozycja, pozdrowienia
M

ikeharel (106341) 2014-03-24 4:47

Hello Kamila,
This pic. could had been taken here in Israel, same olive-trees similar as in our Lower-Galilie region.
Most of the sheeps were looking directly to the camera, amazing how animals understand that, just like kids.
Lovely taken the moment.
Ike

*** soon you will see more of Ashkelon ruins, in the park.

drweizy (536) 2014-05-02 2:19

good sheep, good land. Regards